HIGH rice prices have caused infants in the country to be introduced to other food sources earlier, a study released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said.

In a study, titled Who Weans with Commodity Price Shocks? Rice Prices and Breastfeeding in the Philippines, PIDS research specialist Michael RM Abrigo said high rice prices caused reductions in household’s real income.

If rice prices are high, hunger increases and causes the health of Filipinos, especially breast-feeding mothers, to deteriorate.